power steering conversion ????

[kaptnkaos]

Hey Guys...

This has probably been asked before, but I couldn't find the answer to my question.
I thought I had this all figured out, but maybe not.
Now that the engine is out of the '68 CS, I want to convert the manual steering over to power steering.
If I understand correctly, I can use the column housing from the '68 w/a four speed, and just swap the shorter shaft from a power steering column with the longer manual shaft.
I know I have to change the outer manual steering collar with a power steering one.
I know I need to change the DS side engine perch as well.
Where I got confused was with the steering spindle and such.
The PS box I have came out of the '71 CS (that's now a bump trailer).
Do I have to change anything else or just swap the PS box for the MS box?
I have every part (nuts and bolts included) from the '71 so I have every thing that is needed to swap over.
I'm just not sure exactly what needs to be changed on the '68...

Thanks again...
KaptnKA S

[fordman]

http://www.fordification.com/forum/view ... hp?t=26440

you will have to worry about this on the pitman arm depending on when the pitman arm was made.

[kaptnkaos]

Hey Fordman...

What's disk brakes got ta do with converting to power steering?

I did pick up on something...
According to the vin, the '71 donor truck was made in August so it might be a '72 front end.
I wuz under the impression that all I had to do was remove the MS box and replace it with a PS box. I thought you only had to change things if the box was 73-79...
I'm not even exactly sure which piece is which...
I know the pitman arm attaches to the steering box... that's about it.


KaptnKA S

[fordman]

oops that was the wrong link.

heres the one i was thinking of. sorry

http://www.fordification.com/forum/view ... hp?t=26566

[cdherman]

Pull the pitman off of the manual box and use that one.

Depending what era of shaft you find, you may have to cut a piece off the top to get your horn back on.

Other than that, you plan is correct. I have both shafts side by side here and they are identical, just one is shorter. You can slide the shorter PS shaft into a manual, floor shift column. But as you have found out, you need the firewall brackets too, as the point where the column goes through the firewall is a little higher on the PS unit.

[willowbilly3]

I think you have to use the ps pitman arm. It shouldn't be a problem I had a 72 F-250 ligfht front end and I had a 68 box in it and later aone from a dentside.

[FORDification]

Right....manual-steering and power-steering Pitman arms don't interchange.